what is Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) ?

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an examination that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of the candidates in various undergraduate subjects in Engineering/Technology/Architecture and post- graduate level subjects in Science. The GATE score of a candidate reflects a relative performance level in a particular subject in the examination across several years. The score is used for admissions to post-graduate programs (e.g., M.E./M.Tech/ Direct Ph.D.) in centrally funded Indian Institutes of higher education (i.e., Institutes which are provided with financial assistance by  MHRD and other Government agencies). The score is also used by some Public and Private Sector Undertakings for employment processes in India. Direct recruitment to Group ‘A’ level posts i.e., Senior Field Officer (SFO Tele), Senior Research Officer (SRO) (Crypto) and SRO (S&T) in Cabinet Secretariat is now being done on the basis of GATE scores.

This year GATE 2017 examination shall be held in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates for admissions of candidates from these nationalities in IITs and IISc.

For admission of International candidates, a common admission portal is being developed and International candidates shall be informed about it well in time on this GATE website www.gate.iitr.ernet.in

The information in this brochure is mainly categorized into Pre-Examination (Eligibility, Application submission, Examination Centers etc.), Examination (Syllabus, Pattern, Marks/Score, Model Question Papers etc.) & Post- Examination (Answers, Results, Scorecard etc.) sections.

1.   About GATE

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs at Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee) jointly administer the conduct of GATE. The operations related to GATE in each of the 8 zones are managed by a zonal GATE Office at the IITs or IISc. The Organizing Institute (OI) is responsible for the end-to-end process and coordination amongst the administering Institutes. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is the Organzing Institute for GATE 2017.

       Financial Assistance

A valid GATE score is essential for obtaining financial assistance during Master’s programs and direct Doctoral programs in Engineering/ Technology/ Architecture, and Doctoral programs in relevant branches of Science in Institutes supported by the MHRD or other Government agencies. As per the directives of the MHRD, the following procedure is to be adopted for admission to the post-graduate programs (Master’s and Doctoral) with MHRD scholarship/assistantship. Depending upon the norms adopted by a specific institute or department of the Institute, a candidate may be admitted directly into a course based on his/her performance in GATE only or based on his/her performance in GATE and an admission test/interview conducted by the department  to  which  he/she  has  applied  and/or  the  candidate’s academic

record. If the candidate is to be selected through test/interview for post- graduate programs, a minimum of 70% weightage will be given to the performance in GATE and the remaining 30% weightage will be given to the candidate’s performance in test/interview and/or academic record, as per MHRD guidelines. The admitting institutes could however prescribe a minimum passing percentage of marks in the test/interview. Some colleges/institutes specify GATE qualification as the mandatory requirement even for admission without MHRD scholarship/assistantship.

To avail of financial assistance (scholarship), the candidate must first secure admission to a program in these Institutes, by a procedure that could vary from institute to institute. The admitting Institutes may also specify the number of candidates who shall be provided financial assistance (scholarship), if admission is secured. International candidates, similarly may be provided with scholarship/assistantship (all or limited) as per the notification of  the admitting Institutes. Qualification in GATE is also a minimum requirement to apply for various fellowships awarded by many Government organizations. Candidates are advised to seek complete details of admission procedures and availability of MHRD scholarship/assistantship from the concerned admitting institution. The criteria for postgraduate admission with scholarship/assistantship could be different for different institutions. The management of the post-graduate scholarship/assistantship is also the responsibility of the admitting institution. Similarly, reservation of seats under different categories is as per the policies and norms prevailing at the admitting institution and Government of India rules. GATE offices will not entertain any enquiry about admission, reservation of seats and/or award of scholarship/assistantship.

For admission of International candidates, a common admission portal is being developed and International candidates shall be informed about it well in time on this GATE website www.gate.iitr.ernet.in

  Employment

Several public sector undertakings, have, in the past, used GATE scores for screening of candidates. A few such organizations are: Indian Oil Corporation Limited, National Thermal Power Corporation, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation

and Power Grid Corporation etc.

Note: GATE administration is not responsible for employment opportunities. The qualified candidates must check newspapers and other reliable sources for any such information.

  Administration

GATE is administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB)-GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. The GATE committee, which comprises of representatives from these administering institutes, is the sole authority for regulating the examination and declaring the results.

GATE is conducted through the collaboration of eight zones. The zones and the corresponding administrative institutes are:

Zone-1: Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Zone-2: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Zone-3: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Zone-4: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Zone-5: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur Zone-6: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur Zone-7: Indian Institute of Technology Madras Zone-8:  Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee shall be responsible for the overall coordination of GATE 2017.